When mold symptoms arise, everyone points to the indoor environment of homes or offices. The accused indoor environment is likely the culprit, if it is compromised by water leaks, high humidity, or condensation. On occasion, it is not indoor air quality but instead something outside the home or building.
Recently, a woman called concerned her home was making her sick and she was bogged down with allergy-like symptoms. She wanted her home inspected and the air sampled.
The visual inspection found only minor mold related issues inside the home, and the air sample results confirmed a normal, safe indoor air climate. However, the outside sample taken for comparison displayed a unique wide array of mold at very high levels.
The outside air sample was taken in the backyard of the property which has a decorative koi pond and water feature. The pond was surrounded by beautiful tall vegetation of many varieties. The homeowner indicated she and her husband sit at the edge of the pond each evening in adirondack type chairs and enjoy a glass of wine. In this particular case, the outside environment was the cause of the symptoms. The homeowners’ changed their nightly routine and enjoyed their wine inside the house for the next month and the symptoms disappeared.
